Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

"Please, have a seat."

Li Ji invited Jiang Gan to sit down, treating him with utmost courtesy and subtly examining him.

Jiang Gan also possessed the air of a renowned scholar, his words and actions displaying neither obsequiousness nor arrogance, making him quite approachable.

After some probing, it became clear that Jiang Gan truly lived up to Zhou Yu's assessment of him as "unparalleled in the Jianghuai region." While his words might have contained some emptiness, the breadth and depth of his knowledge were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

More importantly, Jiang Gan was exceptionally eloquent.

He might not be suitable for important political positions, but he was a rare talent for debate.

"Ziyi is truly a gifted orator. I, Ji, intend to recommend you to the Prince of Han. I wonder what Ziyi thinks of this?" Li Ji said with a face full of praise.

Jiang Gan, who had been sitting, immediately stood up, took three steps back, then bowed deeply and said solemnly.

"Thank you for the Prime Minister's kind words, but please forgive my impudence. What I seek is to follow the Prime Minister, hoping to learn even a fraction of your skills. That would be enough to make this life worthwhile."

"Oh? Why is that? If you could gain the King's appreciation, wouldn't that allow you to fully display your talents?" Li Ji asked, quite puzzled.

"What I seek is not wealth, not fame, not power, but knowledge."

Jiang Gan first replied in a loud voice, then said.

"Now, among the wise men of this world, only the Prime Minister possesses both literary and military brilliance, employing troops and governing the state in ways that are beyond the reach of ordinary people. I am ashamed to say that my willingness to serve the Prime Minister is actually for the purpose of secretly learning from you."

"Good!"

Li Ji clapped his hands and laughed, then said. "Since this is what Ziyi desires, I have no reason to refuse. The Great Han should also employ such talents."

After a pause, Li Ji revealed a hint of difficulty on his face, and said.

"However, the Great Han has its own laws. Even if I believe that Ziyi has unparalleled talent, it would not be appropriate to treat you with a high position directly."

Jiang Gan replied. "I dare not speak of position without having made any contribution. It would be enough to be an unofficial advisor without any official title under the Prime Minister's office."

"How could I treat Ziyi so lightly…"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Ji replied. "I wonder if Ziyi would be willing to temporarily take the position of Secretary to the Prime Minister?"

Upon hearing this, a trace of barely perceptible annoyance and displeasure flashed in Jiang Gan's eyes.

For the renowned scholars of the Great Han, reputation was often synonymous with official position. Many famous scholars and great Confucians were given high positions upon entering officialdom, which was the norm.

Moreover, with Emperor Ling of Han selling official positions in the past, and the chaotic times that followed, official ranks and positions had also undergone significant inflation.

The "Secretary to the Prime Minister" was merely a minor official with a salary of four hundred piculs of grain, the same as that of a county assistant or a county commandant.

How could Jiang Gan, who was about the same age, look up to this small position of Secretary to the Prime Minister when Li Ji, who was not yet thirty years old, held the high position of Prime Minister?

However, Jiang Gan's face revealed a look of gratitude, and he quickly bowed in agreement.

Li Ji nodded with a smile and asked.

"I wonder when Ziyi can report to the government office?"

"Whenever I am needed," Jiang Gan replied.

"Very good."

Li Ji said, then turned to Gu Wei beside him and instructed.

"Wei'er, then you should stay and tell Ziyi about the matters that need attention when working in the government office."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

Immediately, Li Ji got up and left directly.

Jiang Gan and Gu Wei, who remained in place, saluted and watched Li Ji disappear from sight. Only then did Jiang Gan turn to Gu Wei, who had not yet reached adulthood, and said.

"May I ask how you are called? What official position do you hold? Please give me more guidance in the future."

"I dare not."

While returning the salute, Gu Wei quickly said, "Gu Wei from Rinan, temporarily serving as a page under the Prime Minister. I hope Mr. Jiang will forgive my lowly position."

Rinan?

Jiang Gan was slightly stunned and couldn't remember where it was for a moment. He asked in confusion, "Where is Rinan located?"

Gu Wei was a little unhappy, but he still replied.

"Rinan Commandery, Jiaozhou."

Jiang Gan was speechless. The look in his eyes as he looked at Gu Wei almost instinctively revealed contempt, and he blurted out, "Has the book of the Holy Confucian also reached Jiaozhou?"

Jiaozhou?

In the eyes of famous scholars like Jiang Gan, even being appointed as the governor of a state like Jiaozhou would be considered exile, let alone Gu Wei, who claimed to be a native of Jiaozhou.

As for Rinan Commandery, after being reminded, Jiang Gan barely remembered it. It seemed to be a remote place at the southernmost tip of Jiaozhou.

'That kind of uncivilized land where natives run rampant…'

Thinking of this, Jiang Gan straightened his originally bowed body and even leaned back slightly, looking down at Gu Wei.

He had thought that anyone who could be kept by Li Ji's side would at least be a direct descendant of a noble family that passed down poetry and books, but he never expected that he would actually be a native from a remote place.

'That's right, people like Li Ji are only worthy of using such people as pages.'

Thinking this, the contempt in Jiang Gan's expression became even more obvious.

Gu Wei, who was good at observing people's expressions and had seen many brave generals and virtuous scholars while following Li Ji, instantly understood what Jiang Gan was thinking. The displeasure in his heart was even greater, but he did not show it.

Immediately, Gu Wei suppressed the unhappiness in his heart and carefully explained a series of precautions to Jiang Gan before taking his leave.

"I won't see you off."

Jiang Gan didn't move his body at all, let alone return the salute and send him off respectfully. He merely moved his lips slightly.

This scene happened to be seen by Zhou Yu, who walked in. He quickly saluted Gu Wei, then walked quickly towards Jiang Gan and asked anxiously.

"Ziyi, did something unpleasant happen between you and Mr. Gu?"

Jiang Gan quickly got up and politely invited Zhou Yu to sit down, then replied, "Of course not. My mind is not even one ten-thousandth as broad as that of the Prince of Han and the Prime Minister, but I would not be so petty as to be at odds with a junior from Jiaozhou."

A junior from Jiaozhou?

As soon as these contemptuous words came out, Zhou Yu knew that something bad had happened and asked.

"Ziyi, do you not know that Mr. Gu is the Prime Minister's page?"

"Of course, I know."

Seeing that Zhou Yu's tone was strange, Jiang Gan also realized something was wrong and asked, "Does that person have another identity?"

"Then does Ziyi know that the Prime Minister only has one page serving him, and that Mr. Gu has been by the Prime Minister's side for three or five years?"

After a pause, Zhou Yu sighed and said, "Don't look at him as just a page in front of the Prime Minister. In today's Shouchun, who wouldn't respectfully call him Mr. Gu when meeting him?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Gan's face changed drastically, and he said with remorse and regret, "The Prime Minister holds such a high position, how would I know that he only has one page by his side? What can I do?"

"Ziyi disdained Mr. Gu today. I'm afraid it will be difficult for you in the government office in the future…"

Zhou Yu couldn't help but sigh slightly.

"Of course, Ziyi doesn't need to worry too much. Mr. Gu is a generous person and not a petty person. He will definitely not seek revenge for personal grievances, but Ziyi should still find a way to apologize to him in person as soon as possible."

"Yes, yes, yes, Gongjin is absolutely right…"

…

Not to mention Jiang Gan's remorse and regret, when Gu Wei rushed back to Li Ji's side, Li Ji was currently fishing in the Peach Garden pond outside Shouchun with Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

The slight snow did not affect the four people's interest.

Once the harsh winter arrived, the pond would freeze, and it would no longer be possible to fish here.

Therefore, the four people were sitting around the stove, boiling wine, grilling food, and fishing at the same time, enjoying themselves very leisurely.

(End of this chapter)